To stay competitive among social platforms and to address complaints about low payouts from its original creator fund, TikTok has recently announced a new monetization tool: the Creativity Program Beta.
According to TikTok, the Creativity Program is designed to reward creators for their “high-quality, original content.” The initiative is the latest addition to TikTok’s monetization solutions for creators, including the ad revenue share program TikTok Pulse as well as tipping features.
Is TikTok finally getting it right with this new fund? And how do you join this new program, anyway?
Below, we break down everything you need to know about the TikTok Creativity Program.
What is TikTok’s Creativity Program Beta?
TikTok’s Creativity Program Beta was just announced at the end of February, as a new way to reward content creators financially. The program is supposed to be the answer to complaints that some creators have had about the subpar payouts from the TikTok Creator Fund.
One of the biggest criticisms of the Creator Fund is that it just doesn’t pay enough, with some creators saying they only made $20-$30 a month even though their videos had millions of views.
So is the TikTok Creativity Program going to support creators who felt somewhat demoralized by the lackluster Creator Fund? At this point, it’s hard to say. TikTok hasn’t shared a lot of information about this program yet, including how much it’ll actually pay creators. However, the program is certainly worth a shot if you’re eligible for it.
Who’s eligible for the TikTok Creativity Program Beta?
While TikTok hasn’t revealed exactly how much you can make from the Creativity Program Beta, it has shared some requirements for joining the program. Eligible creators should:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have at least 10,000 followers.
- Have a minimum of 100,000 valid video views in the last 30 days.
- Have a personal account that’s in good standing. Business accounts are not accepted.
- Abide by TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
- Be located in the U.S., France, or Brazil. TikTok plans to bring the program to more regions in the future.
As of May 3, 2023, TikTok has rolled out the Creativity Program Beta to all eligible U.S. creators.
For creators based in France and Brazil, access to the Creativity Program Beta is currently by invite only, unless you’re already enrolled in the TikTok Creator Fund. If you’re one of the creators who felt underpaid by the original fund, you should receive a message prompting you to switch over.
How is the Creativity Program Beta different from the TikTok Creator Fund?
While there isn’t a lot of information available on the TikTok Creativity Program, you may notice several key differences between this new initiative and the TikTok Creator Fund.
It’s only available in select regions
It’s early in the game for the Creativity Program (it’s still in beta, after all), so it’s only available to creators in select countries. While the Creator Fund is available for creators in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Italy, France, and Spain, the Creativity Program is currently only open for creators in the U.S., France, and Brazil.
Starting May 3, 2023, all eligible TikTok creators in the U.S. can apply for the Creativity Program Beta. However, for creators based in France or Brazil, you’ll need a direct invite from TikTok to join in. If you’re already enrolled in the Creator Fund, though, you’ll get a prompt to switch over.
Videos have to be longer than one minute
Only eligible creators posting longer videos of over one minute can start earning from the TikTok Creativity Program. For some, this seems to be a sign that TikTok is trying to compete with YouTube on longer videos.
On the contrary, the TikTok Creator Fund has no such requirement. It doesn’t matter how long your videos are, you just need a minimum of 10k followers and 100k views over the past 30 days.
It’s supposed to pay creators (a lot) more
One of the complaints about TikTok’s Creator Fund is just how small the payouts are. Some creators were so dejected that they wanted to quit making content altogether. So how does the Creativity Program shape up in comparison?
To help you get an idea of estimated revenue you can make with this new program, some creators have already started sharing their numbers online:
So is this going to be the typical creator’s experience? Or are we looking at outliers? Only time will tell. But so far, it does seem like the TikTok Creativity Program is rewarding creators with more money than the Creator Fund.
What are other ways you can make money on TikTok?
So what should you do if you’re frustrated by the chump change you’re getting from TikTok but aren’t eligible for the Creativity Program yet? Luckily, there are other ways you can make money on TikTok:
TikTok Creator Next: If you have yet to make a dollar from TikTok, this is the first place you should look. Creator Next is the gateway to a ton of TikTok’s monetization options, including the Creator Fund, the Creator Marketplace, LIVE gifts, and more. Make sure to opt in for this program if you want to make money on TikTok.
TikTok Series: A newly announced feature, Series lets you put longer content of up to 20 minutes behind a paywall, allowing creators to create exclusive, premium content while monetizing their audience.
TikTok Pulse: First announced back in May 2022, TikTok Pulse is a revenue-sharing program for advertising.
Selling digital products: If you have an audience on TikTok, you can make money by creating and selling digital products on the platform. From templates to ebooks, you can create different digital products based on your niche and what your audience needs. Once you’ve come up with a product, you can use TikTok as a marketing channel to boost your sales.
Creating UGC (user-generated content) for brands: Many brands pay creators to make authentic-feeling, UGC-like content to promote their products on TikTok. If you have the ability to create high-converting content, this is a great way to flex your skills and earn some money.
Wondering how much money you could make on TikTok? Use our free TikTok Money Calculator to estimate your earnings.
Need more tips for making money on TikTok?
Even if the TikTok Creator Fund was a bit of a dud and the Creativity Program is in its early stages, it’s still possible for you to make substantial income through TikTok. Besides the platform’s own monetization tools, explore other revenue opportunities like selling digital products, creating UGC for brands, or partnering with brands on sponsored content.
For more tips and ideas, download our free guide on how to make money on TikTok.
Follow The Leap on TikTok and Instagram for more monetization tips for creators. We also make a newsletter.
Further reading
- How To Make Money on TikTok in 2023: 7 Effective Strategies
- How To Sell Products on TikTok in 6 Simple Steps
- TikTok Creator Fund: How Does It Work, and Is It Worth It?
- TikTok Pulse: How Does the Revenue Share Program Work – And Is It Worth It?
- TikTok Creator Next: What It Is, What You Get, and How to Apply
- TikTok Money Calculator: Estimate How Much You Can Earn as a Creator
